The Save the Rhino trust works tirelessly to ensure the survival of the desert rhino species in the remote Kaokoland and Damaraland regions.
Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) was founded in 1982 in response to the widespread poaching of the desert rhino population in the Kunene Region in the arid, remote north-west of Namibia. These desert-adapted black rhino were on the verge of extinction and so this trust was formed to ensure the species' survival.
Since the advent of the trust, poaching has drastically declined and the rhino population has more than tripled! However, there is much work still to be done and with the rhino horn still very much in demand in Asia, the organisation is often short of money to fund its vital anti-poaching units.
These desert rhino live on communal land with no formal conservation status, and the local communities have been very much involved in the efforts to stop their extermination. SRT is led by Rudi Loutit and a committed staff made up mainly of local Namibians. They work in conjunction with government and both national and international partners, and the project seeks to benefit the local communities too.
Save the Rhino Trust's mission is to serve as a leader in conservation efforts in Namibia’s remote Kunene Region through:
1) conducting monitoring, training and research activities focused on desert-adapted Black Rhino, in order to ensure long-term security for these and other native wildlife species,
2) communicating knowledge to decision-makers such as national, regional and local government officials, traditional authorities, and other partners,
3) promoting responsible tourism development, and
4) developing sustainable futures for local communities.
NB: We raised R300,000 for Save the Rhino Trust, enough to fund their anti-poaching for for at least a year! To learn more about the Trust you can visit their website at
http://rhino-trust.org.na/
